Hub City to spray for skeeters tonight

Ground action set to kick off at 9 p.m.

Ground action set to kick off at 9 p.m.

August 21, 2007|From staff reports

The city of Aberdeen has scheduled citywide spraying for mosquitoes tonight between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. The city has noticed an increase in the Culex tarsalis mosquito. This species has been identified as one of the most common carriers of West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases. The WNV has been identified in Aberdeen, and city officials urge citizens to take extra precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, according to a news release from the city. The mosquito control division's surveillance program has noticed a high percentage of the mosquitoes collected in the traps are those of the Culex species. Most people infected with WNV do not develop symptoms; however, sometimes mild illness results one to two weeks after exposure with symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, skin rash and swollen lymph nodes. This virus can be deadly and people older than 50 are most at risk, according to the release. One Brown County resident has died from the virus, according to the South Dakota Department of Health. The mosquito adulticiding equipment is noisy and travels at 10 mph, according to the city's release. The mosquito control trucks are identified and travel with a flashing yellow light. Residents might want to go inside just before their area is sprayed and stay inside for 20-30 minutes until the aerosol cloud dissipates. Residents should not run, walk or bike directly through the aerosol cloud behind the insecticide sprayer. Also, anyone who is sensitive to chemicals may want to close windows during the ground spraying. To ensure spray effectiveness during the spraying operations, the wind must be 10 mph or less and no inclement weather present. Winds higher than 10 mph or inclement weather will result in the spraying being suspended until conditions improve. Residents are encouraged to wash all fresh fruits and vegetables before using them. For more information, call (605) 626-7015 or go online to www.aberdeen.sd.us/ mosquito/mosquito.html.